‘Wild Phoenix Project’ includes idea, action events as Earth Day nears

This semester’s Democracy and Justice Studies Senior Seminar is hosting a pair of related events in conjunction with Earth Day. The first, a Wilderness Day event featuring a competition around the theme “What Does Wilderness Mean to You?” will be held from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 in Phoenix Room A of the University Union. Students will share art, photographs and poetry on the central question for the event, which also will double as a fundraiser (the event is free; ice cream is just $1) for Baird Creek Restoration Day on Saturday, April 26. During the latter event (also free and open to the public), DJS students will pair with area high schoolers and others to plant prairie grass seed at Baird Creek, with all funds raised going directly to the Baird Creek Preservation Foundation. It’s been dubbed the Wild Phoenix Project (check it out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), and organizers tell us they’re jazzed about the experience. An initial $200 fundraising goal has been met, but students still are collecting funds to purchase more prairie grass seed for Baird Creek. Full details.